{"id":162125,"date":"2026-02-20T03:56:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T03:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/162125\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T03:56:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T03:56:14","slug":"should-you-fly-if-you-have-a-severe-ear-infection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/162125\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Fly If You Have A Severe Ear Infection?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"woman<\/p>\n

Via iStockphoto \/ @kels_at_claimed TikTok<\/a><\/p>\n

A woman battles a severe ear infection before boarding her flight and wonders if it\u2019s safe to get on the plane with her condition. Turns out, it might be riskier than she thinks.<\/p>\n

TikToker Kelsey (@kels_at_claimed) sits at the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., boarding gate with noise-canceling headphones on. The now-viral video has amassed over 968,000 views since Feb. 8.<\/p>\n

She chews gum and appears uncomfortable. On-screen text reads, \u201cMy face before boarding a 3.5 hour flight with a severe ear infection<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The caption continues, \u201cSend thoughts and prayers.\u201d<\/p>\n

In an email to BroBible, Kelsey says she took a decongestant before the flight and didn\u2019t experience worsening pain in the air. However, she says her ear infection got worse in the days after her flight.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy ear did get progressively worse with more sharp, shooting pains to the point of now having to see an ENT,\u201d she shares.<\/p>\n

Should You Fly If You Have An Ear Infection?<\/p>\n

It can be difficult to maintain normal pressure in your ears when flying, even for travellers with otherwise healthy ears. And that normal popping sensation may add additional discomfort for those dealing with an ear infection, according to Healthline<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If someone flies with an ear infection, they may deal with symptoms like ear pain or vertigo. In rare but severe cases, unequal pressure in the ears could cause hearing loss or an eardrum rupture.<\/p>\n

Because of the added risk of complications with an ear infection, it\u2019s generally not the best idea to fly while you\u2019re still healing if you can avoid it.<\/p>\n

Healthline notes that flyers may benefit from taking a decongestant<\/a> or an antihistamine before the flight to relieve some pressure.<\/p>\n

When Has Flying With An Ear Infection Gone Wrong?<\/p>\n

In the comments of Kelsey\u2019s viral TikTok, other travelers share their own horror stories of dealing with complications after flying<\/a> with an ear infection.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy ear drum ruptured bc of this and i have been struggling with chronic ear infections and sinus infections since. The trip wasn\u2019t worth it lol,\u201d one shares.<\/p>\n

Another writes, \u201cI did that once without knowing I was like 7 and I still remember screaming in pain pls never do this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid this, ear drum burst, extreme pain after that Everytime I went on a flight and I travel often. Had to get tubes in my ears lol,\u201d a third warns.<\/p>\n

In a comment, Kelsey updates viewers on the experience. She writes, \u201cI made it \u2026 barely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others say that even sinus infections or other less severe congestion can cause \u201cexcruciating\u201d pain midair.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust got the new flu before my wedding and flight and still sick as hell thought I was going to d** on that plane my body hurts so bad,\u201d a commenter says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went on a flight with a sinus infection and lost hearing in one of my ears for 24hrs. Had to have emergency steroid prescription. Will never do that again,\u201d a second viewer writes.<\/p>\n

\u201cFlew home with an infection, wasn\u2019t to bad taking off and when I was in the air, but coming down,\u201d another comments. \u201cOMG I sobbed with the pain it was excruciating and I have quite a high pain tolerance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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